Personal blog about states
North Pacific Ocean
Hilo is more affordable and has more local character. Hilo definitely feels less touristy than Kona , which is a good thing. Hilo has some great rainforests and waterfalls in the area, so it’s a good place for hiking and other outdoor activities. The Hilo side gets a lot more rain than Kona , so consider that as well.
168 miles
80 miles
Things to do on the Big Island ATV Tours. ATV tours are a fun way to explore the beautiful difficult to access places such as the wild forests and cliffs on the Kohala coast. Beaches. Biking. Botanical Gardens. Camping. Farm Tours. Farmers Markets. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Hawaii Island Travel Guide: Where to Stay on the Big Island Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii . Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection. Royal Kona Resort. Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort. Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Hilton Waikoloa Village.
about three hours
Kona is also famous for its deep-sea fishing, hosting the International Billfish Tournament (August) every year. And on land, don’t forget to travel to the cooler upland slopes of town like Holualoa, where you can sample the distinctive flavors of 100% Kona coffee, which is what Kona is famous for !
If you intend to visit attractions throughout the island based on our suggestion in the post Big Island 5 day itinerary, you can fly into Kona Airport and fly out in Hilo Airport or vice versa. If you prefer to fly in and fly out with the same airport, it’s up to your personal preference to choose either one.
Kailua-Kona is generally a very beautiful and safe place. Its resorts, especially, are almost completely crime -free. However, because it is a destination which attracts large numbers of tourists, visitors to the region are urged to practice common sense safety tips, most especially when they leave their resort areas.
Have a great time! The town of Kona is just touristy but there are tons of amazing places to see nearby, on that side of the island . There are 3 national park service sites–definitely visit Place of Refuge. There’s great kayaking and snorkling on that side, too.
If you’re visiting Hawaii for the first time , I recommend selecting a single island for your vacation. This allows you to plan out a robust itinerary, relax, and experience the island to the fullest. Hawaii is made up of the following islands: The Big Island of Hawaii . Maui. Oahu. Kauaʻi. Molokaʻi. Lānaʻi. Niʻihau. Kahoʻolawe.
The Big Island is the third most visited in Hawaii and offers accommodation for all budgets. It tends to be cheaper than Maui and it has two very different sides: Kona (west side) and Hilo (east side). In Kona there are many resorts and hotels with prices usually a bit higher than in Hilo.
Hawaiian Airlines is the only other air carrier that offers flights between the Hawaiian islands, but unlike Mokulele, its only direct flights between Kona and Maui go to the Kahului Airport. You’ll find three to six nonstop daily flights from KOA to OGG via Hawaiian Airlines.
There is no passenger ferry service. How do you travel between Maui and the Big Island ? You must fly. There is no passenger ferry service.